(Unseen by the Bitches, Brenda is within earshot, clearing up party debris into a bin liner).

BITCH 4

She’s a bit odd, don’t you think?

BITCH 5

Yeah. So’s her mum.

BITCH 4

In what way?

BITCH 5

You know. (Makes ‘loony’ sign, circling forefinger round her right temple). You know that Saturday job I had down the sweet shop?

BITCH 4

The one they sacked you from? For being mouthy?

BITCH 5

Yeah. Bitches. She came in with her mum once. To get some papers. Her mum started going on about getting this comic and they had this really big argument. Right there in the shop. Right in front of me.

BITCH 1

What were they arguing about?

BITCH 5

I don’t know. Brenda just kept saying they didn’t need it and her mum went really mental.

Yeah. You know. One of those metal plates. In her skull. (She taps the back of her skull). She should get it stamped. Like one of those plaque things.

BITCH 1

Yeah. Made in Runwell.

(The Bitches laugh. Brenda comes over).

BRENDA

(Calmly). You think its funny, do you?

BITCH 1

(Surprised). What?

BRENDA

My mother. You find it funny, do you?

BITCH 5

We... didn’t know you were listening.

BRENDA

I sort of gathered that.

BITCH 1

We were just talking. You know. You shouldn’t have been listening.

BRENDA

Oh. My fault then?

BITCH 2

Don’t try and make us feel guilty. Just ‘cause your mum’s a bit loony.

BRENDA

Loony? Oh. That business with the comic. Do you want to know what that was about?

BITCH 5

Not particularly, no.

BRENDA

Well you started it so I’ll finish, shall I? About three years ago, my mother was in a car crash. That’s why she has a metal plate in her head. It stops her skull falling to bits. The accident affected her memory. She keeps forgetting things. You see, she wanted to get that comic for my brother, Michael. Only he wouldn’t be able to read it now because he’s been dead for three years. It’s a bit of a shock to keep discovering that your little boy is dead, but I suppose it might look funny to someone as mean and stupid as you. Please tell me if there’s anything else you’d like to know. (Exits).

BITCH 3

That was pathetic. (To Bitch 5). She’s just trying to make you feel guilty. How were you supposed to know?

BITCH 4

(Looking in direction of Brenda’s exit). Stupid bitch.

NARRATOR

I just thought that was important. Nothing to do with the plot, of course. The plot? Oh yes. (Indicates garden). Out there.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Total Pageviews

Blog Archive

About Me

I am a fully qualified teacher of Drama, Media and Film Studies with ten years’ work experience in secondary and further education. I graduated from the Central School of Speech and Drama (one of the most respected Drama conservatoires in the world) with a first class Honours degree in Drama and Education and a PGCE.
I was a writer-in-residence and workshop leader for a Southend-based youth theatre for ten years, during which time I developed my creative writing skills to include playscripts, poetry and songs. With my deep interest in Film, I have now expanded these skills to include screenplays.
I now wish to take a sabbatical from teaching to focus on a proposal for a PhD thesis. This will involve developing new collaborative methodologies for intertextual musical theatre in the context of a resynthesis of art, philosophy and science.
My specific areas of interest and expertise are as follows: Academic, Acting, Analysis, Assessment, Auditions, Collaboration, Creative Thinking, Directing, Drama, Education, English, Film, History, Lecturing, Literature, Media, Poetry, Philosophy, Playscripts, Screenplays, Songs, Teaching, Television, Theatre, Tutoring, Workshops, Writing.

I’m writing a first draft for a musical. It's called Marty Gull (Marty[r] Gull[ible]). It's a surreal, satirical, tragicomic piece of musical political theatre: a cautionary tale of school politics, backstabbing egos and the state of the nation.

I’ve written the first draft libretto using a medley of melodies in my head from well-known musicals.

I would like to extend an open invitation to all budding musicians and composers to submit their own musical interpretations. I would also welcome interest from actors (age 20-25) who can sing and dance.

The plan is to develop a new collaborative form of musical theatre. Once we get a good working team of lyricists, composers, musicians, actors and designers together we can decide on the final evolution of the piece and arrange copyright accordingly. I would like to submit or even take the piece to Central as a work-in-progress.

Ultimately, I would be interested in using all of this as a springboard for a thesis on new art forms and musical theatre. But, most of all, I would love to have the opportunity of working with kind, creative and talented people.

If you like the sound of any of this, please post a comment at http://martygull.blogspot.com/or get in touch with me through one of the following methods: